Transmission control mechanism



Feb. 1 7, 1948. J AUTEN 2,436,186

TRANSMISS ION CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed April 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

- Feb. 17, 1948. J..c; AUTEN' 2,436,186

TRANSMISSION CONTROL MECHANISM v Original Filed April 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl I U j I' I V V-S.

Patented Feb. 17, 1948 2,436,186 TRANSMISSION CONTROL MECHANISM Jay C. Auten, Royal Oak, Mich., assignor to- Ciirysler Corporation. Highland Park, Mich, a

corporation of Delaware Original application April 4, 1945, Serial No.

586,498. Divided and this application my 21, 1946, Serial No. 649,197

- 8 Claims. (01. PL-484) This invention relates to transmission control mechanism and refers more particularly to improvements in transmission remote shift mechanism especially adapted for mounting on motor vehicle steering posts. This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No; 586,498, filed April 4, 1945, now Patent No. 2,432,711, issued December 16, 1947,

It is an object of my invention to provide a control mechanism capable of being manufactured at lower cost thandevices of this general type heretofore known. 1

Another object is to provide a control which is less likely to rattle than known devices and which will give better service and have longer life, also a control mechanism having improved characteristics of thrust application from the hand lever to the main steering postmounted selector operating control rod.

A further object is to provide a control operable with a minimum of friction and noise.

Further objects and advantages of my invention reside in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig, 1 is a side elevational view of a typical \power plant and steering wheel installation for ia motor vehicle showing my invention applied lithereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the steering wheel and river operable shift lever as viewed by the veicle driver.

a Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view through the shift lever and connection to the steering post mounted control rod.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional plan view taken as i dicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view taken as it. dicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

K Fig. 6 is an elevational view, partly'in section, of; a modified type 'of fulcrum bushing for a shift lever of slightly modified form.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevational view through the shift lever as indicated by line 'l-l of Fig. 6.

' Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevational view illustrating the biasing means for the shift mechanism asviewed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the Fig 8 structure taken as indicated by line 99 of Fig. 8.

vFig. 10 is a detail sectional elevational view illustrating a modified bushing structure for the main control rod.

Februin connection with a motor vehicle comprising the well known engine A, clutch B, and any type of transmission C which is adapted to be manipulated at least in part by the vehicle driver, In general, my invention provides improvements in the transmission control mechanisms illustrated in the patents to F. W. Slack, No. 2,291,111, of July 28, 1942, and O. E. Fishburn, No. 2,284,191,

. of May 26, 1942, and may be employed to advantage in controlling the shift functions of various types of transmissions other than those illustrated in these patents.

My control mechanism is especially adapted for mounting on the conventional steering post 15 below the steering wheel'lfi, this steering post having its axis inclined forwardly and downwardly from the steering wheel. A main control rod D extends longitudinally adjacent the post I5 and is adapted to select and operate the transmission control elements for forward and reverse speed ratio drives as in the transmissions of the -afore said patents, for example. When rod D is ad justed from a neutral position in the direction of its axis, such motion is transmitted through any suitable operating connection, such-as through the Bowden wire ll, to the transmission selector lever 18. When rod D is rotated about its axis such motion is transmitted through any suitable operating connection, such as through the link and lever systems 19, 20, 2|, to the transmission lever 22 thereby to operate the transmission speed ratio control element which has been selected by longitudinal movement of rod D.

Rod D may be suitably guided adjacent its lower end toaccommodate its rotary and longitudinal movements as in the yielding bushing 23 (Fig. 8) carried by bracket 24 rigidly mounted on post 15. Rod D may be assembled downwardly in its bushing mountings, a lever 25 .being thereafter fixed to the rod for operating link 19. Adjacent its upper end rod D is guided by a bushing 26 which is fixed in a bracket 21 which in turn is fixed to post Hi. In Fig. 3 thebushing 26 has a press fit in bracket 21, this bushing having an annular flange .28 at its upper end resting on the upper face of the bracket. As will presently be apparent, the bushing 26 serves as a fixed fulcrum support for the shift lever on the post l5.

At its upper end rod D is formed with a flattened laterally elongated lever-forming head portion 29 slotted at 39 to receive a lever operating and guide means. A shift lever E comprises a hollow steel stamping terminating outwardly in a stem portion 33 threaded to receive the handle the drawings, I have illustrated my invention or knob 34 adapted to be grasped by the driver in thereby maintaining the lever against lateral displacement relative to rod D. This housing por;

tion of lever E opens downwardly at 37 above bushing 26 and for providing a slidable fulcrum mounting of lever E on bushing 25, lever 'fll1'"" other than thatshown.

crumming rockers are carried by the lever. In the Fig. 3 embodiment of my invention these rockers or cams are formed adjacent the lower bound-.

ary of opening 37 in the former the laterally-ex tending support flanges 38 havmg shift lever-supporting faces adapted to bear on the upper face of the bushing flange 28.- Reference may be made to my copending application Serial No. 586,498 whichdescribesand claims certain features illustratedin Fig. 3. I v

In Fig. 3 the rocker flanges 38 are deflected laterally outwardly from the depending side walls 35 o'f'leve'r E and away from each other, such arrangement permitting these side walls to be fashioned smoothly for a freely fitting engagement with the sides'35 of headiil as aforesaid and atthe same time permitting the red head 29 to be assembledl'with leverjE by inserting head 29 directly into opening 31-. between rockers 38. However, if desired, the rockers'bB may be deflected laterally inwardlyltoward' each other as in the Fig.1? enribodiment. Rockers .38, are spaced from each other at opposite sides or. aXis.X-..-X of rod D, the rockers extending. in the general direction of. the shiftlever. E. sol as. to. intersect a planethrough aXisX-X transversely to lever E.

The fulcrum point for lever. Eremains, during operation ofthe lever, substantially in a'plane through axisfXe-X transverse to. the lever. It is desirable. to maintain the. fulcrum point closely adjacentthe rod. axis XX to minimize lateral loads-n rod D and this has. been accomplished inthe accompanying: embodiments of myinvention.

I have provided means-supported between the depending side walls of. .leverE and -cooperating with-the slotted formation of; the. lever head-.29 for effectingzlift of the rodDinresponse to lift of lever handle 34 and also for maintaining leven-E, positioned against undesired displacementdn the direction ofwits length transversely to the axis XX,' this means cooperating, withthe flanges 38 and ;fulcrum-bushing 26 to guide uprand'down shiftingmovements oflever E. In FigL-B this means comprises a plate 3sgextending. between the sidewallsiof lever E andhaving; aflanged head .40 seatingfexternallyl on one side :wall,=a :com.-

panion. flanged head. .4 It seating: on; the opposite. side wall. and beingsecured .tmthe. platea3il by.

fasteners and :43.

Plate '39 extends through slot 3li which is generally triangular in shape havingv its apex. of;

cylindrical contour at 44 centered about an axis 45 to rotatably fit-the cylindrical-end 45 of plate 39. The other end of the plate is likewise'cylindrically formedat l'i'aboutan-axise48 for engagement withthe base 49 0: the slot 31L this being of-arcuate formation centered on axis-45.

In the Fig; 3-p'osition of the parts-With'the lever E in its lower-mostneutral position-"the upper face=ofplate- 39 engages the upper walker" side of the triangular-slot ill-and wheat-helever is-"fu-llytial position horizontally or at some inclination Theflanges scare preferably of arcuate formationoma radiusRabbut the axis 48 and this axis preferably intersects axis X-X or lies closely adjacent'thereto in order to cause lever E to swing verticallyabout the axis of rod D without undue side thrust thereon and in order to maintain a fixed distance R. between the lever axis 48 and the fulcrum surface at 28. Withfsuch an arrangement the axis 48 neither rises nor falls for vertical shifts of lever Eand, therefore, neither. gains nor loses effective lift on the rod D. Of course by. curving flanges 38 about an axis either above or below that illustrated at 43,: the effective lift of lever E will be either-supplementedby increased lift or deoreased lift as the case may be. Furthermore, flanges 33 could: be of nonuniform curvature for camminglift ifdesn'em During upward swing of lever EfromFlg. 3 to Fig. 6, the lever axis of rotation 48 has an imperceptible displacement laterally of axis X-X as the plate 39-moves perpendicular toaxis X--X andthe lever is free tov so-move by slight slip at the fulcrumsupport 28 as will presently be apparent. a 1 I In order to minimize friction between the fixed fulcrum bushing 26 andthe lever flanges 381slidablyseated thereon=and to provide: for aneasy noiseless shift of lever E both vertically andhorizontally 0r laterally, Il-form the bushing,-or its lever supporting face, of some metal composition different from that of the 'lever flanges. Thus in Fig. 3 the bushing 26 is formed by; molding and sintering powdered :metal or metals of: differentmelting pointsin a mannr novv'well known-I in forming porous metal-L'bearings of. the self: lubricating type as, by way of example, set forth; in patent to C. A. Tea,"1,927,619, of-pseptember 19, 1933, and to W. G. Calkinset 2.1.; 1,927,627., 0 September 19, 1933. Lubricant may beprovide in the. form ofgraphite-included' in the metal mix ture: supplemented by or. substituted by flui lubricant absorbed by immersing the bushing in lubricating oil then to :be exuded to the fulcrum surface of bushing flange 28.

Following present known arrangements in remote gearshift mechanisms in,genera1'use,;-ro d D is preferably biased downwardly atsome con,- venient point or points in the connectionsof the operating system, usually within the transmissionC. This serves. to maintain leverr E in its Fig. 3 neutral downwardly swung posit-ion known as the highr speed range rea'dy'to be rotated mented by automatic shift functions in the transmission.

Because of the inclination of post l5 and rod D,

and the mass of lever E, the lever when in the forward position E has a tendency to work back is displaced rotatably about axis X-X relative to the end at 5| in a direction tending to bias lever E forwardly from its neutral position, the displacement bein such that with the lever shifted to the position E the spring 50 will act to counterbalance and offset the tendency of the lever to jiggle out of the position E. At the same time spring 5|] exerts a constant downward pull on rod D so that lever E is maintained seated on bushing 26 and to maintain an anti-rattle connection between rod D and lever E. Reference may be made to my copending application Serial No. 649,194 which describes and claims certain features illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

' With lever E in its Fig. 3 neutral position, rod D is biased downward causing head 29 to seat on the upper face of plate 39 thereby forcing the lever E'to seat at its flanges 38 on the bushing flange' 28 stationarily mounted on the post if). Rotation of lever E either fore or aft will cause the lever and rod D to rotate as a unit about axis XX, head 29 fitting the side walls of lever E. During this movement flanges 38 rotatably slidably bear on the bushing flange 28. The lubricant content of the bushing 26 insures the desired freedom of sliding contact at flanges 38 free from noise and undue wear.

When lever E is lifted from the Fig. 3 neutral position, preparatory for a rotational shift in the raised position, flanges 38 wipe across flange 28 at the bushing contact substantially in a plane transversely to the shift lever through axis X-X or closely adjacent thereto as in Fig. 3 while the plate portion at 46 lifts the head 29. During this lift, the lever E rotates about axis 48 in providing a mechanical advantage for lifting rod D in the ratio of the effective lengths of lever E and plate 39 from axis X-X. After the lever has been lifted then it is swung about axis X-X. The wiping and rotating movements of flange 38 on flange 28 brings into action at different times the various portions of flanges 38 with the various portions of flange 28 so that there is no tendency to wear'a groove in the fulcrum surface of flange 28.

In Figs. 6 and 7, I have illustrated a slightly modified bushing 28' which may be employed in lieu of the bushing 26 wherever illustrated in my drawings. The bushing is of steel or other metal faced at 53 with the aforesaid material forming bushing 26. The facing 53 is fused with the bushing flange 28 and provides all the aforesaid functions of flange 28. Inasmuch as the special bearing material is desired for co-action with flanged rockers 38 which are carried by the shift lever, it may be more economical in some inrocker flanges 38' directed inwardly toward each 6 other instead of outwardly as in Fig. 5. Otherwise the parts may be as previously described. Obviously lever E--2 may, if desired, be substituted for lever E in Fig. 3 for engagement either with bushing 26 or 26', or with some other type of fulcrum.

Referring to Fig. 10, I have illustrated a modified form ofbracket mounting for the shift lever.

In Fig. 10 the bracket 21' is adapted to be secured to the steering column as in Fig. 1. The rod D extends through the bracket opening with a sliding guide fit in a bushing of yielding material carried in a steel backing 8| press fitted within the bracket 21'. Adjacent and above bushing 80 is a bushing 26" of material similar to bushing 25 aforesaid. Bushing 25" is flanged to overlie the upper face of the bracket and provide a fulcrum face for the shift lever of any of my embodiments, this bushing having a clearance with rod D. Bushing 2B" is press fitted in bracket 21.

In Fig. 10 the bracket 21 extends a distance 82 below the bushing 80 equal to approximately the vertical movement of rod D such that the portion of the rod which slidably engages bushing 80 is not exposed to view below bracket 21'. Thus rod D may be painted up to the bracket 21 and when rod D is lifted, the painted part will not engage bushing 80 as otherwise it might seize in the bushing and otherwise mar or injure the parts.

I claim:

1. In a steering column mounted control mechanism for selectively operating speed ratio controls of a motor vehicle transmission, a main rotatable and reciprocatory control rod having its axis extending generally longitudinally of the steering column and adapted for operative connection with the transmission, said rod having its upper end provided with a lever portion rigidly connected to said rod and offset laterally therefrom, a shift lever having an outer end portion adapted to be grasped by the vehicle driver and a hollow inner end portion within which said offset lever portion is disposed thereby housing said lever portion within said hollow end portion and providing an operative connection between said shift lever and said offset lever portion such that rotary shifting movements of said shift lever about said rod axis cause said rod to rotate about said axis with said shift lever, said hollow end portion of the shift lever having an opening through which said rod extends, means for mounting said rod on said steering column comprising a bushing fixed relative to the steering column and having a flange formed of sintercd powdered metal having a lubricant content forming an annular fulcrum surface surrounding said rod adjacent said lever opening, means'connecting the upper end of said rod with said shift lever for transmitting vertical swinging movements of said shift lever to said rod so as to move said rod in the direction of its axis and for guiding said shift lever for rotational shift about said rod axis during said rotary shifting movements of said shift lever, said shift lever having a pair of rockers rigidly carried thereby in lever-fulcruming engagement with said annular surface, said rockers extending generally longitudinally of said shift lever along and adjacent opposite sides of said rod and each rocker having at least a portion thereof arced about an axis extending in a direction transverse to said rod axis, said mounting and. connecting means cooperating with said rockers such that when said shift lever is face and such that when said'shift lever is swung vertically upwardly said ro ckers slidablylwipeisaid annular friction surface: and fu'lcrum said shi'ft lever for effecting lift of said rod. v

'2; In a, steeringcolumn mounted control: mechanism for selectively operating-speedratiotcontrols of'a motor vehicle transmission, a main roits upper end provid'edrwith a leverportion rigidly connected to saidirod and offset" laterally. there'- from, a shift lever having, aidriver" operable end.

portion and an opposite? hollow end portion formed with. bounding sidewalls each havinggafuloruming rocker'carriedthereby, said rockers extending generally longitudinally of: said shift lever and being spaced from each other irradirectionitransversely of saidshift lever, said rod extending upwardly through the'space between said rockersand having its saidlever portion disposed within said hollow portionqof said shift lever, means-operaby connectingsaid offset end of said rod to saidshift-lever for eifecting axial and. r0, tatingmovements of said rod respectively-in responseto vertical swinging and lateral shifting movements of said shift lever, a fulcrum mounted on the steering column, said fulcrum comprising a metallic part having a lubricant content, and means biasin said rod and shift lever downwardly to maintain said rockers engaged with said fulcrum during said swinging and shifting movements of said shift lever.

3. Ina steering column mountedicontrol for a motor vehicle transmission, a bracket fixed to the Steering column, abushing fixed to said bracket and having a fiangeoverlyingsaid bracket topresent a iulcrunr ng face, saidbushing having an opening, therethrough, at'least the said face of said bushing being of porous metal hav-- ing'a, lubricant content, a shift lever having a rocker carriedthereby, said'rocker being arcuate and curved out of the plane of said bushing face and adapted to slide in' lever-fulcruming engage-- ment. with said'bushing face, anda'transmission control rod extending through said bushing openiing'for'connection with said shift lever.

4." In a transmission'control', a shift lever; means "operablyco-nnectin'g said lever with said transmission for effecting shift control thereof by operation of said'lever; and a fulcrum for'said lever;said lever having an arcuate part instraight line sliding contact with said fulcrum; said fulcrum comprising 'a' body ofporous =siritered powdered metal having a lubricantcontent:

5.'In a. transmission control; a shift lever," means operablyconnecting said lever with said transmission for eifectingshift control thereof- -by'operation of said lever, a'stationarily'mounted bracket having anopening-therethrough, said operably connecting means comprising a rod extending with clearance through'saidopeningand" adapted to be axially-reciprocated by-said'shift lever, a metallic bushing fitting the upperend which said rod extends, a non-metallicbushing within said bracket opening adjacent said 'metallic bushing-and disposed therebclow; said non metallic bushing having an! openirrgfl therethrough fitting said rod, said bracket opening extending:.below said non-metallic; bushing for at least approximately the.amount:-ofiaxial.nrove-'- ment impartedito. said vrodzby said-shift lever;

said: lever having: a part .slidably :engageable wlth: said: bushing flange for:fulcruming -saidulever;s

6. Ima: transmission control; at shift lever," means: 'operably connecting. said lever with said transmission for 1 effecting shift control i thereof by: operation: of: said lever,:v and r. a fulcrum ior: said: lever, said i lever; having: an pair r of rockers: in simultaneous slidingeontacte. witlr said? fulcrum, said fulcrum: comprisingsatbody faced on; itsupper surface withiaa porous sinteredapow dered metal having. azlubricant contents '7, In a steeringcolumn: mounted zcontrol for a motor vehicle transmissionaa bracketefixed to the: steering; column,v a bushing, fixed-to:- said bracket and having: a1 flange overlying; saidi bracket, saidflange having; a .body. portion and a fulcruming, face portion, .said: face portion being formed of a porous. sintered' powdered metal, havingv ailubricant content; and saidiifacei poretion being fused to said bodygportionpsaid bush: ing having an openingtherethrough, a shift lever having a. rockercarried thereby in; straight line sliding lever-fulcruming; engagement: with. said. bushing face, and a transmission control-rode);- tending through said'bushing; opening for con-l nection with said shift lever;

8.--In a steering column Y mounted control mechanism for selectively operating speed ratio. controls of a motor vehicletransmission, a main: rotatable and reciprocatory control a rod. having: its axis extending; generally longitudinally, of the steeringv column and adapted. forioperative connection with the transmissiomsaid rod having its upper end providedwith a lever portion rigidly connected toisaid rodand ofisetlaterally; therefrom, a shift leverihavingian outer end portion adapted to be grasped'bythevehicle driver and a hollow-inner endportion" formed with. apair ofdepending: side walls within: which said, oiiset lever portion is disposed: thereby, housing; said lever portion within said'ihollow endrportion and'providing an operative connection between said shift lever and said offset lever portion such that rotary. shifting; movements of said shift leveraboutsaid rod axis cause said rod to rotate about i said axis with said shift lever, said hollow end portion of the shift-lever having an opening through which said rod-flextends, means for mounting said rod-on saidsteering column comprising-a bushing fixed relativeto the steering column and having a flange formedof sintered powdered metal havingalubricant content forming an annular fulcrumsurface surrounding said rodadjacent'said lever opening, means connecting theupper endiof saidrod with said shift lever for transmittingtvertical swinging movements .of said shift lever to:saidrod'so as to move said' rod in'thedirectionofits axis andfforguiding said shiftlever-for rotational shift aboutsaidrod axis duringssaid. rotary. shifting, movements ofssaid shift lever, said shift lever. having, depending sidev walls being fl'aredlaterally outwardly and. downwardly and each having a flange forming arocker-directed inwardly toward said rod; said: rockers being carriedin lever fulcruming engagement with said annular surface, .saidrockers extends. ing generally 'longitudinally, of'Tsai'dTshifL lever. along and adjacent opposite sides of i said. rod, andeach rocker having at least a portion there- 10 of arced about an axis extending in, a direction transverse to said rod axis. said mounting and REFERENCES CITED connecting means cooperating with said ro k r The following references are of record in the such that when said shift lever is rotatabiy file Of hi P t nt shifted about said rod axis the said rockers ro- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS tatably wipe said annular friction surface and such that when said shift lever is swung ver- Number Name Date ticaily upwardly said rockers slidably wipe said 1,912,101 short May 30, 1933 annular friction surface and fulcrum said shift 2,192,252 Dmza et 1: lever for effecting lift of said rod. 10 213031787 Bum 1, 1942;

JAY C. AUTEN.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,436,186. February 1741948.

JAY C. AUTEN It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 5, line 18, for read E;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of November, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'ssioner of Patents. 

